Back Print

Name Class Date

Skills Worksheet

Graphing Skills
Line Graphs and Laboratory Experiments
In a laboratory experiment, you usually control one variable (the independent
variable) to determine its effect on another variable (the dependent variable).
Line graphs are useful for showing the relationship between variables in a labora-
tory experiment.
For example, you might perform an experiment in which you measure the tem-
perature at which a quart of water boils when salt is added to the water. In this
case, temperature is the dependent variable, and the amount of salt being added
— a total of 4 Tbsp — is the independent variable.
The independent variable is plotted on the x-axis and labeled “Salt (Tbsp.),” with
a range of 1 to 4. The dependent variable is plotted on the y-axis and is labeled
“Temperature (°F),” with a range of 212 to 224°F.
A grid has lines running horizontally from the y-axis and vertically from the x-axis.
To plot a point, you would: 1) find the x value on the x-axis; 2) follow the vertical
line from the x-axis until it intersects the horizontal line from the y-axis at the cor-
responding y value; 3) place the point at the intersection of these two lines.
The line graph below shows how the data would be graphed for the hypothetical
experiment mentioned above.
224

221
Boiling Temperature (°F)

218

215

212
0 1 2 3 4

Tablespoons of Salt

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Holt Earth Science 22 Introduction to Earth Science
Back Print

Name Class Date

Graphing Skills continued

PRACTICE
Use the line graph above to answer the following questions.
1. At approximately what temperature would a quart of water with 3 Tbsp of salt
boil?

2. How many tablespoons of salt would cause the water to boil at 217.4°F?

3. At approximately what temperature would a quart of water with 4 Tbsp of salt

boil?

4. Predict the approximate temperature at which a quart of water with 5 Tbsp of

salt would boil.

5. Let’s say you want to conduct an experiment that measures the volume of a
gas at different temperatures. Use the data table below to create a line graph
that shows how volume is related to temperature, with temperature as the
independent variable.
Temperature (K) Gas Volume (L)
0 0.0
200 0.7
400 1.4
800 2.8

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Holt Earth Science 23 Introduction to Earth Science
Back Print
ANSWER KEY

62. to improve computers, cars, medical SECTION: SCIENCE AS A PROCESS

equipment, and airplanes 1. C
63. to consider the possible negative 2. A
effects of their work 3. E
64. alternatives, risks, and costs and ben- 4. D
efits to humans and to Earth 5. B
6. C
Math Skills 7. A
8. D
1. 3 9. B
2. 3 10. D
3. 8
4. 560.589 ⴚ 23.47 ⴝ 537.12. There are Chapter Test A
five significant digits in the answer.
5. 462.0323 ⴛ 1.283 ⴝ 592.8. There are 1. H
four significant digits in the answer. 2. I
3. F
Graphing Skills 4. J
5. D
1. 220.1°F 6. B
2. 2 7. A
3. 222.8°F 8. E
4. 225.5°F 9. C
5. Gas Volume vs. Temperature 10. G
3.0 11. A
12. B
2.5
13. D
Volume (L)

2.0 14. C
15. B
1.5
16. A
1.0 17. A
18. C
0.5
19. D
0.0 20. C
0 200 400 600 800

Temperature (°K)
Chapter Test B
Section Quizzes: 1. E
2. D
SECTION: WHAT IS EARTH SCIENCE?
3. A
1. D
4. C
2. E
5. B
3. B
6. C
4. C
7. B
5. A
8. A
6. A
9. D
7. B
10. C
8. D
11. D
9. B
12. B
10. B
13. A
14. C
15. C
16. B

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Holt Earth Science 50 Introduction to Earth Science